Tagalog, with the stress on the second syllable, is the national language
of the Philippines. In 1962 it was made the country's official language and
given the new name of Pilipino. Tagalog is the mother tongue of about 15
million people, most of whom live in southern Luzon in an area that includes
Manila. Its study has been strongly encouraged by the government and it is
estimated that over 75 percent of the population at least understands the
language.
Tagalog is a member of the Malayo-Polynesian family of languages. The three
centuries of Spanish rule in the Philippines left a strong imprint on the
vocabulary. Mesa (table), tenedor (fork), papel (paper),
and asero (steel) are only a few of hundreds of Spanish words in
Tagalog.